IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!
Thor Ragnorak (2017) is quite possibly the best solo adventure in the MCU. Taika Waititi took over the franchise and led it to greatness.
1. Ragnorak is the funniest MCU Film
While other films may have more jokes per second, no MCU story is even close to this funny. The opening sequence with Surtur is itself one of the best Thor scenes to date. Then, not to be outdone, Loki is ruling Asgard as a devotion to himself. The film moves fast and hits faster with comedy and action. Every joke hits perfectly. My favorite is when Thor thinks that Loki turned into a business card and pokes it with his umbrella. Classic. The cameos from Matt Damon and Luke Hemsworth are also fantastic.
2. Ragnorak has the best character development in the Thor franchise
After attempting to stage a Game of Thrones meets Shakespearean tragedy in The Dark World (2013), Ragnorak spoofs its seriousness and achieves every character relationship goal that it had hoped for. Thor and Loki's relationship is more clearly defined and entertaining than in any previous film. After the death of Odin, we see who they really are. Loki never hated Thor. He actually hated the worst father in the universe, Odin. Thor never hated Loki. They finally accept each other for who they are and they both believe in the other more than they believe in themselves. Thor and Loki have moved past dramatic teenage squabbles and now take on a new journey together.
3. The New Ensemble is Phenomenal
This adventure adds Hela (Cate Blanchett), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), The Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), and Skurge (Karl Urban). Heimdall (Idris Elba) returns in a bigger and more prominent role than before. His character takes on new depth as well. Then, Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Dr. Strange (Benedick Cumberbatch) join in the fun as well. There's not enough space in this post to describe how brilliant the performances are in Ragnorak. By not taking every so seriously, the more dramatic moments get to shine. Honestly, this is brilliantly cast, performed, and directed.
4. Can't we just let Thor be happy?
While the evidence of this is subtle in Ragnorak itself, the film serves as a precursor of Thor's troubles. Thor goes on and on about what heroes do. The Asgardians go through a lot in a short span of time. This film is almost tragic in a way because we know what comes next to Thor. Everything in his life is finally taking a positive turn. It seems he has been able to rise from the ashes of tragedy into harmony, but this peace doesn't last. Thor saves the remainder of his people only to have them slaughtered. He reunites with Loki only to see him die. He makes new friends only to lose them. I used to think that the MCU's most tragic character was Steve Rogers, but it's not even close anymore. Steve begins in tragedy and moves towards a happy ending. Thor starts in misfortune that seemingly grows. His positive outlook finally breaks. Enjoy Ragnorak because it is generally a happy story for Thor.
5. Who doesn't love the action in Ragnorak?
We begin with a swan-song for Mjolnir and end with a swirl of lighting to the Immigrant Song (Which references Norse Mythology, but is double-edged because the Asgardians become refugees). The Thor and Hulk gladiator scene is not only a wildly entertaining fight but is full of comedy and does some tidy story-telling for Thor's journey. The action sequences are both entertaining and concise. There is never a fight that exists just for the sake of fighting; it's always built into the story and often layered with other elements as well.